Stroboscopic apparatus



May 8, 1923- A. J. H. ELVERSON STROBOSCOPIC APPARATUS May 8, 1923- A, J. H. ELVERSON sTRoBosooPlc APPAATUs Filed Sept. ll, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. J. H. ELVERSON s-TRoBoscoPIc APPARATUS Filed Sept. ll, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 may 8, 1923- Mik-HIM /V I/ E /V TOR Ell/@lascia Patented Mey 8, '15923.

UNITED STATES PATEN oFF'lc-E.

ARTHUR JOHN HAWES ELVEBSGN, F READING, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOE TO HERBERT KENNEDY & COMPANY LIMITED, 0F LONDON, ENGLAND.

STROQOSCOPIC APPARATUS.

Application led September 11, 1920. Serial No. 409,725.

To all wlwm t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, An'rrr'mz J oms Hawes ELvEnsoN, a subject of: the King of Great Britain, residing at Loddon Bridge, Reading, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stroboscopic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved stroboscopic apparatus for use in studying the movement of bodies moving at relatively high; speeds in a periodic manner.

A further object of the invention is to prol'vide an apparatus in which the stroboscope is driven at a speed di'erin slightly from the speed of the moving y, (hereinafter referred to as the mechanism), so that the mechanism appears to traverse its path at a relatively slow speed. If, for instance, there is driven from the mechanism, such as an engine shaft, a Wheel having 99 teeth, and this gears with a second wheel having 100 teeth, and from the latter a suitable Hash 26 illuminating device, such as a vacuum tube is driven, then the mechanism will ap ar.

to move at T51, of its real speed, an its movement can be studied. This` gearing I e refer to as a Creeper-gear.

By providing alternative Hash-controlling devices, one synchronizing with the mechanism and the other driven through the creeper-gear, the mechanism can be viewed either in apparently stationary position or apparently performing its Iperiodic movement at reduced speed.

In order to be able to adjust the phase of the movement at which the mechanism is viewed in an apparently stationary posi- 40 tion there is interposed, in the drive for the flashin mechanism, a phase adjuster. This may t the form of a worm-box capable of rotation to give the necessary differential movement the worm-box being provided with an indexing head by means of which the alteration in .phase may be definitely controlled.

The invention may be a plied to studying the amplitude, nature an period of vibravE tions by controlling the ashingapparatus so as to give flashes at intervals corresponding to given fractions ofthe time period of.

the movement of the mechanism which gives rise `to the vibration.

In order to determine the amplitude and nature of the vibrations, the mechanism may be viewed through a telescope eye-piece vrovided with a graticule preferably rule in the form of a double diagonal scale and with an adjustable hair line which is adjusted to coincide with the observation point 0n the mechanism the coordinates of which mxy then be read off by means of the graticu e.

This observation is usually made while the stroboscope is driven synchronously with the mechanism, and the phase adjuster is employed in order to obtain successive readings of the co-ordinates fromwhich the forms of the vibrations may be studied. In order to provide a suitable view point, the stroboscopic ashing apparatus may consist of a high tension spark transmitted at the point to be observed at periods synchronizingwith the time period of the mechanism, A telephonie microphone may be employed in the apparatus in order to determine the ligase point of an irregularity such as the ocking point in an internal combustion n ne.

he stroboscopic apparatus may give the flash by means of vacuum tubes or by direct light viewed through an obscurator such .as a disc provided wlth slots. In the latter case, a number of superposed disks may be employed, the slots in which are so designed that 'by relative rotation of the disks any given number of fiashes per revolution of the mechanisnrmay be obtained.

Further, by employing a cinematographic camera or similar device in conjunction with this apparatus, a photograph of successive positions of the mechanism may be obtained.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Fig. 1 shows in section an instrument constructed in accordance with-the invention. Fig. 2 shows, in part sect-ion, a side view'of the instrument viewed from the left in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 to 5 show smaller scale elevations of the driving wheels and obscurator disks for obtaining one` two, four or eight dashes per revolution ofthe l'driving wheels. Figs. and 7 show the prey ferred .form of graticule for observingthe nature and amplitude of vibrations. Figure 8 shows in elevation an arrangement of electric contact devices for timing flashes, and Figure 9 shows a side elevation thereof in diagrammatic form showing electric circuits. A

The instrument shown in Figures 1-5, is intended for direct vision and is provided with two view tubes A, a which may be. provided with telescopic eye-pieces: the former, A, views through apertures formed in a wheel B, driven at the speed frequency of the mechanism and the latter, a, yviews through a similarly apertured wheel b driven at a speed frequency slightly behind that of the mechanism. The wheel B has preferably 99 teeth and the wheel b 100 teeth: each wheel has eight apertures b1 and has arranged behind it obscurator disks c, d proyided with orifices 01,' d1 respectively as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

By angular adjustment of these disks relatively to the'wheels it is possible to obtain one, two, four or eight flashes per revo-- lution of either wheel. Windows e are provided in the case to facilitate the relative adjustment of the wheels and disks which arel provided with numbers on their edges as shown-and slots f are provided at the top and bottom of the case to give access to the peripheries of the disks which are preferably toothed. In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the disks are set to give one ash per revolution of the mechanism. If thereforethe mechanism is viewed through thel tube A it will appear to be stationary: buty if through the tube a the mechanism will appear to perform its cyclic movement at one hundredth of its true speed.

Cams may be fitted concentrically with the pinions B, b to control electric contact devices for giving flashes by means of neon tubes or other known appliances employed in stroboscopic apparatus.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, cams m1, m2. ma, and M1, M2, and M3 are mounted upon the shafts of the pinions b, B respectively; one of the cams in each set has one projection another has two projections equally spaced and the third has four projections equally spaced. Contact levers n, N are pivoted and axially movable upon shaft y, Y and carry contacts p, P adapted to engage contacts g, Q. The latter are connected up by an `electric circuit including a'two-pole switch S to a transformer or induction coil T in the secondary circuit of which neon tubes are arranged. j

According to the axial setting of the levers n, N, which are spring-pressed against the Wheels, contacts are made through the niembers p, g and I), Q once, twice or four times per revolution of the shafts of the pinions b, B and one of these sets of contacts cause timed flashes to be communicated to the nen tubes U. In the normal use of the apparatus the levers are set to give one contact per revolution of the pinions and thus according to the setting of the switch the mechanism will then be illuminated so as either to appear stationary or to appear to perform its periodic movement at reduced speed.

The wheels B, b are preferably provided with roller bearings as shown and the wheel B is driven from the drive shaft D through the phase adjuster E.

The phase adjuster comprises in its preferred form two arms e1 encircling a circular groove in a sleeve e2 splined to the driving shaft D. The forwardportion of this sleeve is provided with a1 quick-pitch male thread e3 which engages a female thread cut" in a boss B1 projecting from the wheel B. The arms e1 project through slots e in the case and are toothed to engage an internal screw thread cut in a ring e4 which is held in position by a cap e but is capable.

of rotation. This ring can be rotated in either direction to adjust the phase of the flashes in the following manner while the driving shaft is running s` the arms are prevented by the slots e5 from rotation and are forced by the screw threads on rotational movement of the ring, to move longitudinally parallel to the axis of the driving shaft. This longitudinal movement is transmitted to the sleeve e2, the quick-pitch screw on which causes the boss B1 to move relatively to the shaft D and thus varies the phase relation between the flashes of the stroboscope and the movement of the mechanism.

Arms e1 are incapable of rotation by virtue of the fact that the slots e5y in their radial dimensions provide only working clearance for arms e1. A tendency for the rotation of arms e1 with sleeve e2 is prevented by makin arms e1 a running fit on sleeve e2.

n order to study the amplitude and period of vibrations the graticule illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is employed in conjunction with a movable hair line in the eye-piece connected to one of the tubes A, a.

In order to determine the height of the synchronized spark above a given datum line to which the eye-piece is set, the spark is viewed in the centre line in the position marked 1 in Fig. X6, which indicates the numerical graticule `markings. The graticule is mounted in a plate h on rods j 7'1 the former of which has screwed connection 1 with the plate and is provided with an adjustment head by turning this head k the graticulel is moved until the spark intersects a horizontal diagonal at the position marked 2. The intersection of the hair line indicated in dotted lines (which may be adjustable) with the vertical diagonal is then noted. In the position shown the reading is 1.04-.2+.05 1.25. A

The knowledge of the phase angle enables i a diagram to be plotted of lthe nature of the vertical vibration: and by rotating the graticule and hair line through ninety degrees the horizontal amplitude can be measiired.

i I claim .A

1. In a stroboscopie apparatus for studyand selective means for causing one or other of said Hash-timing means to give timed -flashes to illuminate the body to be studied.

6. In a stroboscopic apparatusfoi studying the movement of a body moving at relay tively high speeds in a periodic manner, the

ing the movement of a body having a shaft said rotating member and selective means means lfor drivi whereby said Hash-timingy means may be actuated to produce each of a plurality of dierent whole numbers of flashes per revolution of said member.'

2. In a stroboscopic ap aratus for studying theV movement of a bo moving at relatively high speeds in a'periodic manner', the combination of flash-timing means, driving means for drivin said flash-timingmeans synchronously wit the body, a second fiashtiming means, a second driving means for driving said 'second flash-timing means at a frequency diierin by a small fractional amount from the quency of the body, both said driving means being simultaneously in operative connection with their flash-timingfmeans. 4

3. In a stroboscopic apparatus for studying the movement of a body moving at relatively high speeds ina periodic manner, the combination of flash-timing means, driving means for driving. said Hash-timing means synchronously with the body, a second flash-- timing means, a second driving means for driving said second flash-timing means at a frequenc differing by not more than three per cent rom the' frequency of the body, both said driving means being simultaneously in operative connection with their flash-timing means.- I y A. In a 'stroboscopic apparatus for studycombination of sighting means, flashing means therefor, means for driving the flashing means from the body to be studied at a frequency differing by 'a small fractional amount from the frequency of the body, a second-sighting means, and dashing means therefor driven synchronously with the body.

7. In a stroboscopic apparatus for study- .ing` the movement of a body moving at relatively high speed in a periodic manner, the combination of' sighting means, a dashing wheel with axis parallel to the sighting means and provided with evenly-spaced ap- -ertures adapted periodically -to allow vision low vision through said sighting means two discs concentric with said wheel, said. discs Abeing provided with apertures and being ing the movement of a body movingv at relatively high speeds in av period manner, the

combination of a first gear wheel driven synchronously with saiil shaft, a second gear wheel driven from said first gear wheel at anangxular speed differing slightly7 from that of t4 e first gear wheel, and two simulltaneously-driven flash-timing means one -driven synchronously with, said first gear wheel and the other driven synchronously with said second gear wheel.

5. In a stroboscopic apparatus for studying the movement of a body moving at relatively high speeds n a periodic manner, the combination of flash-timing means, driving said flash-timing means synchronously wit the body, a second flashtiming means, a second driving. means forA driving saidsecond flash-ti in meanaat a` frequency -difering 'by' a sma l fractional amount from the frequency ofthe l`-body,

capable -of adjustment and. means for relative adjustment of said discs alternatively to cause to be masked seven, six, four or none of said apertures in said wheel.

9. In a st'rob'oscopic apparatus for studying the movement of a body moving atrelatively high speeds ina periodic manner, the

combination of sightin means, a flashing wheel withaxis para el to the sighting' evenl. -spaced apertures means.. and havin ada ted periodica y to a ow vision throu h sai sighting means, means for driving said wheel synchronousl with the bodyV to be studied, teeth onsaid wheel, a second sighting means, a second dashing wheel with axis parallel-to said sighting means, and having evenly-spaced apertures in said second flashing wheel adapted periodicall to allow vision through said second ias ing wheel, 'and teeth on the latter wheel engaging the teeth on the first wheel and differing innumber Pby a small amount from those on th first wheel. 10. In a stroboscopic apparatus for studying the movement of a body having a shaft rotating at relatively high speed the combination of si hting means, flashin means therefor, mec anical driving means Ior driving said flashing means synchronously with said shaft and means interposed between -said shaft and lsaid means for causing dashes to occur at di'erent angular positions ofsaid shaft Without stopping Said driving means:y

11. In a stroboscopic apparatus for studying the movement of a body moving at relatively high speeds in a periodicmanner, the combination of an eyepiece, a flashing device therefor, means for driving the flashing device synchronously with the body to be studied, and means for measuring the displacement of a given point on the body from the axis of the eyepiece, comprising a transparent double diagonal scale arranged in the eyepiece and means for adjusting the scale relatively to the axis of the eyepiece.

12. In a stroboscopic apparatus for studying the .movement of a' body having a shaft rotating at relatively high speed the combination of sighting means, flashing meansv therefor, a first gear Wheel driven synchronously with said shaft, asecond gear Wheel driven from said shaft at an angular speed diering slightly from that of the first gear wheel and selective means for causing 'dashes to occur once, twice or other exact number of v 13. In a stroboscopic apparatus `for studying the movement of a body having a shaft rotating at a relatively high speed and capable of rotating at dierent speeds, the combination of a rotating member driven from said shaft, Hash-timing means operated by said rotating member,l and means for varying the number of flashes per revolution of said member.

14. In a stroboscopic apparatus for studying thev movement of a body having a shaft rotating at a relatively high speed and capable of rotating at different speeds, the combination of a rotating member driven lfrom said shaft, flash-timing means operated by said rotating member, and means for varying the number of flashes in a given period of time but independently of the' peed offrevolution of said member.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

ARTHUR JHN HAWES EMERSON. 

